Production Conveyor Systems has taken a different path to addressing the issue of sheathing exterior wall components. The most commonly used method in the industry is the use of routering techniques. We believe an automated two-axis saw offers a number of very significant design and production advantages:

1. Cutting and optimizing material usage becomes a ONE MAN job. X and Y dimensions are manuaaly imputted to the saw and the raw sheet material advances into the machine for precise cutting. When this machine-cutting operation is integrated into a system of conveyors, the cut sheathing can be directed in sequence to the assembly line for optimum productivity. The operation listed above can gain additional efficiency if design software detailed information can be provided to the saw to enable use a "paperless" information exchange. In those instances software creates a cut list, maintains the appropriate manufacturing sequence, and optimizes residual for optimum material utilization.

2. Manufacturing components with pre-cut sheathing offers significant increases in production throughput. Anticipating the sizes and shapes of material for sheathing a wall allows your production line to run much more freely. Your production will not be halted to position a router to create a shape or an opening. With the PCS system, sheathing is applied from pre-cut shapes and tacked to the particular wall section "on the fly".

3. Using an automated saw, removed from your production line, reduces waste and dust at your line, which improves working conditions for your personnel. Dust is easily vacuumed away and small scraps are not collecting under your line. By avoiding crude, blind, plunge cuts, common to router methods to create openings, your waste will be significantly reduced. Savings from material optimization can mean significantly more money to your bottom line.

4. Positioning pre-cut material, cut to known requirements, will improve the quality of your product out the door. Unlike the routering methods, traditionally accepted in many manufacturing environments, management can now have a method to cross-check quality. Pre-cut sheathing will insure that walls are properly constructed. This compares to routering openings blindly in locations presented at this work station. Openings are often routered in wrong locations as a result of components being assembled in error.